PsySH is a runtime developer console, interactive debugger, and REPL for PHP. Prior to versions 0.11.23 and 0.12.19, PsySH automatically loads and executes a `.psysh.php` file from the Current Working Directory (CWD) on startup. If an attacker can write to a directory that a victim later uses as their CWD when launching PsySH, the attacker can trigger arbitrary code execution in the victim's context. When the victim runs PsySH with elevated privileges (e.g., root), this results in local privilege escalation. This is a CWD configuration poisoning issue leading to arbitrary code execution in the victim user’s context. If a privileged user (e.g., root, a CI runner, or an ops/debug account) launches PsySH with CWD set to an attacker-writable directory containing a malicious `.psysh.php`, the attacker can execute commands with that privileged user’s permissions, resulting in local privilege escalation. Downstream consumers that embed PsySH inherit this risk. For example, Laravel Tinker (`php artisan tinker`) uses PsySH. If a privileged user runs Tinker while their shell is in an attacker-writable directory, the `.psysh.php` auto-load behavior can be abused in the same way to execute attacker-controlled code under the victim’s privileges. Versions 0.11.23 and 0.12.19 patch the issue.
References
| Link | Resource |
|---|---|
| https://github.com/bobthecow/psysh/releases/tag/v0.11.23 | Product Release Notes |
| https://github.com/bobthecow/psysh/releases/tag/v0.12.19 | Product Release Notes |
| https://github.com/bobthecow/psysh/security/advisories/GHSA-4486-gxhx-5mg7 | Exploit Vendor Advisory |
Configurations
Configuration 1 (hide)
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History
27 Feb 2026, 20:36
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| CPE | cpe:2.3:a:psysh:psysh:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| First Time |
Psysh
Psysh psysh |
|
| References | () https://github.com/bobthecow/psysh/releases/tag/v0.11.23 - Product, Release Notes | |
| References | () https://github.com/bobthecow/psysh/releases/tag/v0.12.19 - Product, Release Notes | |
| References | () https://github.com/bobthecow/psysh/security/advisories/GHSA-4486-gxhx-5mg7 - Exploit, Vendor Advisory |
30 Jan 2026, 21:15
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| New CVE |
Information
Published : 2026-01-30 21:15
Updated : 2026-02-27 20:36
NVD link : CVE-2026-25129
Mitre link : CVE-2026-25129
CVE.ORG link : CVE-2026-25129
JSON object : View
Products Affected
psysh
- psysh
CWE
CWE-427
Uncontrolled Search Path Element
